Earl Long

Earl Kemp Long (26 August 1895-5 September 1960) was Governor of Louisiana from 26 June 1939 to 14 May 1940 (succeeding Richard W. Leche and preceding Sam H. Jones), from 11 May 1948 to 13 May 1952 (succeeding Jimmie Davis and preceding Robert H. Kennon), and from 8 May 1956 to 10 May 1960 (succeeding Robert F. Kennon and preceding Jimmie Davis). Earl Long was the brother of Louisiana politicians Huey Long and George S. Long and the uncle of Senator Russell B. Long, and he was known for his erratic behavior and his progressive policies.

Biography
Earl Kemp Long was born in Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana on 26 August 1895, the younger brother of George S. Long and Huey Long. Long attended Louisiana State University, and State Senator John J. Doles was his roommate. In 1932, he ran for Lieutenant-Governor of Louisiana as a Democratic Party member, but he lost the election. In 1936, however (shortly after his brother Huey's assassination), he won the election, succeeding James A. Noe. When Noe resigned in 1939, Long served as acting governor for less than a year, and he left office in 1940, with Coleman Lindsey succeeding him as Lieutenant-Governor and Sam H. Jones succeeding him as Governor. In 1944, he was defeated in his run for Lieutenant-Governor.

In 1948, Long was elected Governor of Louisiana, succeeding Jimmie Davis. Long promised old-age pensions, a new highway system, and veterans' bonuses, and he ran on a progressive platform. He sat out the 1952 elections due to term limits, but he returned as governor in 1956, and he allowed for African-Americans to vote and called for full black participation in elections. In 1960, he supported Davis, as he was again limited as to how many terms he could serve. He was nominated to the US House of Representatives that same year to represent Louisiana's 8th congressional district, but he died before he could take office.